The Pleasure of Play

Rediscover the infectious joy of connection and play!

Experience the freedom and empowerment of becoming fully present and alive. Shift your perspective on making mistakes and discover the pleasure of sharing yourself with others and being witnessed in all your glorious, messy humanity.

This workshop explores clown and mask work as accessible gateways to help participants activate and share this state of joy and play.

Open to both newcomers and experienced performers.

Instructor: Sonia Norris

Sonia Norris has been teaching acting internationally for 30 years, specializing in mask, play, clown, and devised ensemble creation. She trained with renowned teachers of physical theatre at Ecole Jacques Lecoq in France, Ecole Philippe Gaulier in England/France, Dell ‘Arte School of Physical Theatre in California, and most recently with master clown Angela de Castro in London and mask teacher Matteo Destro in Italy.

She is a graduate of the Playhouse Acting School in Vancouver and received her MFA in Directing from York University. As a director and creator, Sonia has toured productions to the Arctic, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the Yukon, across Canada, and the United States and has extensive experience working with international companies including Handspring Puppet Company, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Luminato Festival, Harare International Festival of the Arts, Rogue Artists Ensemble, Cirqiniq, Balancing on the Edge, Caravan Farm Theatre, Crows Theatre, Nightwood Theatre, Banff Centre Indigenous Dance, Red Sky Performance, and LEGacy Circus.

Currently, she is the Head of Acting/Associate Professor of Acting in the Theatre Department at California State University Northridge in Los Angeles, and the Founding Artistic Director of the Circus & Clown Desert Intensive in Las Vegas.